Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) The GDS is a depression scale for the elderly population developed by Yesavage et al. (139) in 1983. This scale is based on self-report and consists of 30 questions, the main purpose of its preparation is to be easy to answer and to consist of questions for the elderly. For this reason, the authors developed a scale for the elderly population that does not include somatic symptoms such as sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, body aches and pains, and symptoms that may occur for reasons other than depression, and the answers are yes or no.
This test consists of a total of 30 questions, which can be filled in by the patient himself/herself or by the examiner through an interview. The 100 questions used in the first stage in the formation of the GDS were directed towards somatic symptoms, affection change, cognitive impairment, low motivation, loss of future orientation and loss of self-worth.
The final 30-question version of the scale covers the areas of affective change, inactivity, irritability, withdrawal from life, disturbing thoughts and negative judgments about the past, present and future. The validity and reliability of this scale has been evaluated in community dwellers, inpatients in psychiatric clinics, nursing home residents and outpatients and found to be valid. It was also found to be valid in patients under treatment for a medical illness.